Director's
Message

Video of launches from USS Gravely, USS Carney, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower supporting strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets. Credit: U.S. Central Command Public Affairs

Defending the
Nation

As technological disruption and unpredictable, emerging threats redefine the global landscape, the U.S. faces daunting national security challenges. APL is leveraging its deep expertise in specialized fields to support national priorities and technology development programs. By combining creativity and technical prowess within a culture of innovation, APL is tackling the toughest challenges of our time and driving solutions with impact on multiple fronts.

Bold
Innovation

In our increasingly complex world, solutions to the most pressing problems require strategic foresight, creativity and technical expertise. APL researchers are combining these competencies and developing technologies that will shape our future — making impactful advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy, health care, energy, manufacturing and computing.

Exploring The
Extremes

Parker Solar Probe’s closest approach to the Sun capped another year in which APL researchers pushed the capabilities of technology to provide a better understanding of the universe and our place within it. Using decades of experience in space mission management and expertise in electrical and mechanical design and fabrication, materials science, hypersonic vehicles, cislunar space and planetary defense, the Laboratory collaborated with organizations around the world to answer fundamental questions and tackle pressing threats and challenges.

Countering
Evolving Threats

As rapidly advancing technologies give rise to novel and shifting threats, safeguarding the nation requires agile, forward-thinking responses. APL draws on its longstanding strengths in systems engineering, advanced research and data-driven analysis to anticipate and mitigate these complex challenges. Through inventive thinking, deep technical expertise and a collaborative spirit of innovation, we are delivering transformative solutions that address tomorrow’s threats today.

Labs of
the Lab

Tech
Transfer

University
Collaborations

A Culture
of Innovation

Awards
and Honors

Director's
Message

APL Director Ralph Semmel, right, and other Lab leaders address staff members during the 2024 Spring All Hands event, highlighting forward-looking initiatives and celebrating the collaborative spirit driving the Laboratory’s impactful contributions to national security and space exploration.

This year, our nation faced increasingly complex challenges that demanded daring new approaches and innovative solutions. As we have for the past 82 years, the Applied Physics Laboratory answered the call to action and conducted research, development and analyses across a wide array of domains that gave our country a significant edge. We are particularly proud that a number of our contributions had a direct and consequential impact on defending our forces from terrorist attacks and deterring potential adversaries from taking harmful actions.

In this report, you will read about some of the breakthroughs created by our incredible staff to tackle many of today’s — and tomorrow’s — critical challenges. Among our noteworthy contributions are crucial new capabilities to enhance our nation’s security in ballistic missile defense, cyber resilience, hypersonics, undersea warfare and human–robot teaming. Beyond their effective deployment in current operations, many of these capabilities now serve as essential underpinnings for transformative future systems. Moreover, our innovations in areas such as artificial intelligence, assured autonomy, biomanufacturing, health and next-generation materials are enabling us to envision a dynamic new future in which we are continually expanding the boundaries of what was thought to be possible.

In addition to our pivotal national security work, the Laboratory’s accomplishments in space exploration continue to broaden and deepen humanity’s understanding of our solar system and the universe. Among our many achievements this past year, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe — designed, built and operated by APL — set yet more records as the closest-ever spacecraft to the Sun, acquiring unprecedented data just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) from our star’s surface, and became the fastest-ever human-built object, reaching a speed of close to 430,000 miles (692,000 kilometers) per hour.

Looking back at the Laboratory’s achievements this year is bittersweet for me, as I will be stepping down in July 2025 and this annual report will be my final one as director. I still vividly recall joining the Laboratory in 1986 and being struck by the collaborative spirit, intelligence, curiosity and dedication of our staff. Little did I realize that my days as a fledgling researcher in artificial intelligence would be just the first step on a journey that would culminate in my becoming the Laboratory’s eighth director in 2010. In the ensuing years, we have built an organization even more focused on mission, our people and disruptive innovation for the security and well-being of our nation.

It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to lead the Applied Physics Laboratory as we deliver critical contributions to many of our nation’s most critical challenges and strive to create defining innovations that will ensure our nation’s preeminence in the 21st century. I know that APL will continue to serve the nation as a vital institution dedicated to creating capabilities that have game-changing impact for decades to come. And, with this being my final message, let me close as I so often do by encouraging us all to be bold, do great things and make the world a better place!